October 1 through 7 is Mental Illness Awareness Week. As a family caregiver, this is your ideal opportunity to talk to your aging parent about the realities of mental illness. You may wish to bring up anything that may indicate that your senior is suffering from a mental illness and work together to create a care approach tailored to helping them cope with this issue effectively.

Use these tips to help you talk to your parent about mental illness:

Remove the stigma. Your parent may come from a time when it was common for people to not talk about mental illness because of the stigma. Start your conversation by helping your parent to understand that times have changed and that people are far more open to mental illness than before. Reassure them that they should not be ashamed or embarrassed, and that help is available.

They are not alone. When suffering from mental illness it is easy to feel as though you are completely alone, which can only make the situation worse. Help your parent to understand that what they are going through is not unusual and that they are not alone. One in five adults in this country will suffer a mental illness, putting them in the company of millions of people.

Let them talk. When you are planning your conversation with your parent about their mental health you might focus on all of the things that you want to say to them. Make sure that you also take the time to just listen as well. Remember that this is their journey and that they will likely have thoughts and opinions regarding their mental health that they wish to share with you. Let them express what they are feeling and going through so that you can work together to devise an approach that is right for them.

Staring senior care for your aging parent can be one of the best decisions that you make for them as their family caregiver. Hiring a senior home care services provider is about boosting their quality of life, enhancing their lifestyle, and ensuring that they are getting all of the care, support, and assistance that they need both when you are able to be with them and when you are not. This care provider will give your parent a high personalized set of services designed specifically to address their individual challenges, limitations, and needs in a way that is right for them. By keeping their individual personality, preferences, beliefs, and goals in mind, this care provider can ensure that their services are tailored toward keeping your parent safe, comfortable, and healthy, while also promoting as much independence, activity, and fulfillment as possible as they age in place.

Source
https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Illness-Awareness-Week
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs381/en/

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Minnetonka, MN, and the surrounding areas, please contact the friendly staff at CareBuilders at Home Minnesota. Call today 612-260-2273.